KANSAS CITY, MO -- Patrick Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January of last year and died Monday. "60 Minutes" creator Don Hewitt succumbed to the disease in August. Prolific fraudster Bernie Madoff is said to be suffering from pancreatic cancer.
Sources at the
University of Kansas Hospital and the
Kansas City Cancer Center report that this particular form of cancer is hard to detect and resists treatment like chemo and radiation. That's what makes it so deadly.
The pancreas is about six to ten inches long, two inches wide and is located behind the stomach. Because it is so deep in the body and because the cancer doesn't cause recognizable symptoms, it's difficult to find the cancer early. Right now, CT scans are the best way to detect small cancers in the pancreas.
The causes of pancreatic cancer aren't clear but there are risk factors:
- Cigarettes. Smokers are two to three times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than non-smokers
- Diet. Consuming food that his high in fat and low in fruits and vegetables may cause an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
- Obesity. People with a high body mass index (BMI) are at higher risk.
- Your job. Some studies say that exposure to petroleum and other chemicals might cause the disease. Petrochemical workers and hairdressers fall into this category.
- Diabetes. People wiht diabetes develop pancreateic cancer twice as often as those who don't.
This may sound familiar but the best prevention is avoiding risk factors and changing your diet and lifestyle. Quit smoking, eat more fruits and vegetables, cut down on alcohol and exercise more.
